Fic: The Art of Subtlety
Title: The Art of Subtlety
Author: discreetmath
Rating: PG-13
Fandom: Supernatural
Pairing: Dean/Castiel
Spoilers: None
Warnings: None
Word Count: 1800
Summary: Castiel seeks advice from Sam, but it doesn’t work out quite like he’d hoped.
A/N: Betaed by haughtymelodic
Disclaimer: Characters and anything else recognizable do not belong to me. I'm just borrowing them.
Sam’s alone in the room, trying to take advantage of the quiet to catch up on research while he waits for Dean to come back with dinner. In reality, he's let himself get distracted watching Youtube videos, but he works hard, okay? He's entitled.
"I don’t understand," comes a voice from just behind his left shoulder. He jumps in his seat and whirls around to see Castiel hovering behind him, peering at the screen. "Why is that dog wearing human clothing?"
"Geez, Cas, a little warning next time?" Sam asks, willing his heart rate to slow.
"My apologies. I’ve been here for several minutes, but you seemed rather engrossed in the video of the kitten riding on the back of the turtle. I didn't want to disturb you."
Sam blushes, minimizing his windows and shutting the laptop.
"Was there something you needed? Dean’s not here."
"I am aware. I actually require your assistance with a... sensitive matter."
Sam raises an eyebrow. "Okay, shoot."
"You may be aware that your brother and I share a profound bond," Castiel begins.
Sam fights the urge to make gagging sounds, because he's an adult, and he's better than that. "Yeah, I’m aware."
"Recently, I have realized that my feelings toward Dean may be of a more romantic nature than I realized." He ignores the way Sam’s eyes widen. "I know that he might be resistant to the idea of beginning an amorous relationship with me because I'm in a male vessel, so I was hoping that you might help me to introduce the idea delicately."
Sam opens his mouth and then closes it, trying to decide what to say.
"Yeah, Cas. I’ll help you out. Just give me some time to think on it, okay?"
Castiel nods before looking sharply at the door and disappearing from the room. Dean walks in, laden with a bag of food and a six pack, and Sam grins at him.
"What’s so funny?" Dean asks with a frown.
"Oh, nothing. I'm just really excited for dinner."
Dean looks pointedly at the greasy bag and gives him a suspicious glance. When Sam just shrugs, he thankfully lets it drop.
---
A week later, Sam checks their PO Box in Des Moines and triumphantly pulls out the package he’d ordered. He shoves it inside his jacket, then grabs the new credit card from the box and heads out to the car to meet Dean. He has to wait a few hours before he’s alone, and he makes sure Dean’s gone before praying to Castiel. The angel appears immediately with an expectant look on his face.
"Hey, Cas! So, I thought it would be a good idea for you to show Dean that you share his interests and besides, that rumpled suit isn’t really doing much for you. So I got you this," he says, rummaging through his duffel for the t-shirt he’d ordered and a pair of jeans he’d gotten from Wal-Mart. "Here, put these on."
Cas looks at them dubiously. "You think that Dean will like it if I wear these clothes?"
"Yeah, definitely. It'll make you more approachable. Plus, when we were kids, he used to love watching old episodes of Star Trek, so this shirt will show him you’re into that. He’ll love it."
"Thank you, Sam," Cas say seriously. "I appreciate your help." He takes the items and leaves the room in a flutter of wings.
Sam smiles to himself and goes to get a shower before he meets Dean for dinner.
---
They’re sitting in the booth waiting on their food when Cas arrives, appearing in the seat next to Dean.
"Shit, Cas, what have I told you about that?" Dean grumbles, glancing up at the angel. As soon as he sees him, his eyebrows shoot up to his hairline. Sam stifles the laugh that’s threatening to burst out of him.
Castiel is wearing the clothes Sam had bought for him. He can’t see the jeans under the table, but he knows they’re closely fitted. The shirt, though, was a stroke of genius. It’s pink and snug, and it says "It’s OK to be Takei!" next to a rainbow-colored logo. It’s even better than he expected. Dean’s mouth opens and closes a few times, and he looks at Sam as if hoping for some kind of cue. Seeing none, he blurts out the first thing he can think of.
"Uh... hey, Cas. Is that a new shirt?"
Cas smiles, glancing down at his torso and then back up at Dean.
"Yes, Dean. I thought you might like it."
And that’s it. Dean sputters for a moment before muttering something about leaving the oven on and fleeing the booth.
Cas frowns at Sam. "I don't think he liked this clothing."
"No way, Cas. He totally did. He’s just socially stunted."
"If you’re sure," Castiel says after a pause. "Thank you, Sam."
---
A few days later, Sam’s on the internet searching for a new case when inspiration strikes.
"Hey, Cas, you busy?"
Castiel arrives after a few moments, looking nervous. He’s still wearing the jeans Sam had bought but has apparently gotten the hang of the idea of changing clothes. The pink shirt has been replaced by a black button-down, and Sam has to admit that the guy looks good.
"Did you have something to tell me, Sam?"
"Yeah, it’s just that you know the biggest thing in Dean’s life is pretty much hunting. And it seems like we’ve been dealing with this apocalypse crap forever. I know he wishes we could get back to some regular hunts."
Cas just looks at him, obviously confused.
"So I found this hunt, it’s just a poltergeist up in Poughkeepsie, but I think it would mean a lot to Dean if you brought this one to him. Just tell him you think it’s important. I know he’d be grateful."
"Okay," Cas says, looking determined. "I can do that."
"All right, man. He should be back to the room in about two hours, so come back then."
"Okay, Sam. I’ll see you soon."
---
A while later, the brothers are sitting on their respective beds, Dean cleaning weapons while Sam works on the computer.
"Oh, wow," he says, looking intently at the screen.
"What is it, Sammy? You find us a hunt?"
"No, I was just looking at the news, and apparently they legalized gay marriage in New York state. That’s awesome."
Dean looks at him for a long moment before nodding. "Yeah, I guess that’s pretty cool."
Sam goes back to combing through news sites, and they’re quiet for about twenty minutes before a rustling sound announces Castiel’s return to the room. Dean looks up, and Sam thinks he sees him blush.
"Hey, Cas," Dean says with a cautious smile. "What’s up?"
"I require your help with a haunting. I need you to come to Poughkeepsie, New York."
When Dean’s face turns white, Cas frowns and tries to make his point a little clearer.
"I think it’s very important that you take a break from the apocalypse and go to New York. Will you do that for me?"
Dean’s a little wild-eyed at this point. "Yeah, whatever," he says quickly. He jumps up from the bed and heads into the bathroom, locking the door behind him.
Castiel sighs. "I really don't think this is working, Sam."
"No, man, it definitely is. Just don’t give up yet."
---
It’s two weeks before Sam finds another opportunity. They’re out at a bar and Dean’s distracted, flirting with the bartender. He prays to Castiel under his breath, and the angel appears on the stool next to him.
"Okay, Cas, I think this is going to do it. You need to make Dean jealous. Find a good-looking guy and flirt with him. When Dean sees, he’ll be livid. It will be perfect."
"Sam," Cas protests, clearly frustrated. "I have no idea how to flirt with somebody. If I did, I might not need your help at all."
"No, it’s easy," Sam argues. He scans the bar and finds a tall guy with blond hair and a reasonably pretty face. "Go say hello to him," he tells Cas, gesturing at the guy. "Just stand close, and touch his arm, and act like you’re interested in what he has to say."
Cas looks skeptical, but he closes his eyes for a moment as if steeling his nerves. He then turns on his heel and walks directly over to the blond guy, whose eyes light up appreciatively at the sight of Castiel. Sam orders another beer and sits back, ready for an enjoyable night.
---
Dean’s sitting in the back of a police car, his hands cuffed behind him and a bruise already forming on his cheek, when Cas appears in the seat next to him.
"Cas! Oh, I’m glad to see you, man."
"Dean," he begins, radiating disapproval. "I don’t understand why you felt the need to strike that man. You're not normally so impulsive."
"I don’t know, man, he was coming on to you! You looked uncomfortable, and that shit just isn’t cool. He was being way too forward. I’d have done the same for Sammy."
Cas sighs, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose in a very human gesture of frustration. He looks up and raises his hand toward Dean’s forehead before pausing.
"I know that you don't enjoy it when I ‘zap’ you places, but I feel that these are exigent circumstances. Will you allow me to remove you from this car before the police attempt to identify you?"
"Shit, yeah. Please, get me out of here."
Cas places a hand on his cheek and reality shifts, reforming into Dean and Sam’s motel room.
"Thanks, man." Dean looks up at Cas, who appears agitated. "Is something wrong?"
The look Castiel fixes on him sends a shiver down his spine. He knows the angel’s been acting weird lately, but surely he’s reading these signals wrong. Dean doesn’t ever get that lucky. He swallows, his throat suddenly dry.
"Yes, Dean. Something is wrong. I approached Sam for assistance, but I believe he has been manipulating me for his own amusement. The time for subtlety has passed," he says, before pushing Dean onto the bed. He follows him down, straddling his hips.
"I would like to pursue a romantic relationship with you," he says before dropping his head and pressing his mouth hard against Dean’s. A whimper encourages him, and he rolls his body downward, feeling the hard line of an erection as Dean’s hips buck up into his own.
"Are you amenable to the idea?" he murmurs, nipping at Dean’s jaw. He takes the answering groan as confirmation and reaches down to work Dean’s belt open.
Dean is panting, and his head is spinning. The handcuffs are pulling at his still-bound wrists, and damned if that isn't turning him on. He tries to get his mind working enough to say something, anything, before Cas thinks he’s a total idiot. Well, more of one.
"Yeah, Cas, yeah, shit," he cries, voice strained as Cas wraps a hand around him. "Next time, man, go straight for the direct route. Trust me."
"Dean," Cas chuckles, and Dean shivers. "There won't be a ‘next time.’ For me or you."
Dean just lets his head fall back and groans, fighting down the smile that's threatening to split his face wide open.
"Yeah," he says breathlessly. "You got it."
Author: discreetmath
Rating: PG-13
Fandom: Supernatural
Pairing: Dean/Castiel
Spoilers: None
Warnings: None
Word Count: 1800
Summary: Castiel seeks advice from Sam, but it doesn’t work out quite like he’d hoped.
A/N: Betaed by haughtymelodic
Disclaimer: Characters and anything else recognizable do not belong to me. I'm just borrowing them.
Sam’s alone in the room, trying to take advantage of the quiet to catch up on research while he waits for Dean to come back with dinner. In reality, he's let himself get distracted watching Youtube videos, but he works hard, okay? He's entitled.
"I don’t understand," comes a voice from just behind his left shoulder. He jumps in his seat and whirls around to see Castiel hovering behind him, peering at the screen. "Why is that dog wearing human clothing?"
"Geez, Cas, a little warning next time?" Sam asks, willing his heart rate to slow.
"My apologies. I’ve been here for several minutes, but you seemed rather engrossed in the video of the kitten riding on the back of the turtle. I didn't want to disturb you."
Sam blushes, minimizing his windows and shutting the laptop.
"Was there something you needed? Dean’s not here."
"I am aware. I actually require your assistance with a... sensitive matter."
Sam raises an eyebrow. "Okay, shoot."
"You may be aware that your brother and I share a profound bond," Castiel begins.
Sam fights the urge to make gagging sounds, because he's an adult, and he's better than that. "Yeah, I’m aware."
"Recently, I have realized that my feelings toward Dean may be of a more romantic nature than I realized." He ignores the way Sam’s eyes widen. "I know that he might be resistant to the idea of beginning an amorous relationship with me because I'm in a male vessel, so I was hoping that you might help me to introduce the idea delicately."
Sam opens his mouth and then closes it, trying to decide what to say.
"Yeah, Cas. I’ll help you out. Just give me some time to think on it, okay?"
Castiel nods before looking sharply at the door and disappearing from the room. Dean walks in, laden with a bag of food and a six pack, and Sam grins at him.
"What’s so funny?" Dean asks with a frown.
"Oh, nothing. I'm just really excited for dinner."
Dean looks pointedly at the greasy bag and gives him a suspicious glance. When Sam just shrugs, he thankfully lets it drop.
---
A week later, Sam checks their PO Box in Des Moines and triumphantly pulls out the package he’d ordered. He shoves it inside his jacket, then grabs the new credit card from the box and heads out to the car to meet Dean. He has to wait a few hours before he’s alone, and he makes sure Dean’s gone before praying to Castiel. The angel appears immediately with an expectant look on his face.
"Hey, Cas! So, I thought it would be a good idea for you to show Dean that you share his interests and besides, that rumpled suit isn’t really doing much for you. So I got you this," he says, rummaging through his duffel for the t-shirt he’d ordered and a pair of jeans he’d gotten from Wal-Mart. "Here, put these on."
Cas looks at them dubiously. "You think that Dean will like it if I wear these clothes?"
"Yeah, definitely. It'll make you more approachable. Plus, when we were kids, he used to love watching old episodes of Star Trek, so this shirt will show him you’re into that. He’ll love it."
"Thank you, Sam," Cas say seriously. "I appreciate your help." He takes the items and leaves the room in a flutter of wings.
Sam smiles to himself and goes to get a shower before he meets Dean for dinner.
---
They’re sitting in the booth waiting on their food when Cas arrives, appearing in the seat next to Dean.
"Shit, Cas, what have I told you about that?" Dean grumbles, glancing up at the angel. As soon as he sees him, his eyebrows shoot up to his hairline. Sam stifles the laugh that’s threatening to burst out of him.
Castiel is wearing the clothes Sam had bought for him. He can’t see the jeans under the table, but he knows they’re closely fitted. The shirt, though, was a stroke of genius. It’s pink and snug, and it says "It’s OK to be Takei!" next to a rainbow-colored logo. It’s even better than he expected. Dean’s mouth opens and closes a few times, and he looks at Sam as if hoping for some kind of cue. Seeing none, he blurts out the first thing he can think of.
"Uh... hey, Cas. Is that a new shirt?"
Cas smiles, glancing down at his torso and then back up at Dean.
"Yes, Dean. I thought you might like it."
And that’s it. Dean sputters for a moment before muttering something about leaving the oven on and fleeing the booth.
Cas frowns at Sam. "I don't think he liked this clothing."
"No way, Cas. He totally did. He’s just socially stunted."
"If you’re sure," Castiel says after a pause. "Thank you, Sam."
---
A few days later, Sam’s on the internet searching for a new case when inspiration strikes.
"Hey, Cas, you busy?"
Castiel arrives after a few moments, looking nervous. He’s still wearing the jeans Sam had bought but has apparently gotten the hang of the idea of changing clothes. The pink shirt has been replaced by a black button-down, and Sam has to admit that the guy looks good.
"Did you have something to tell me, Sam?"
"Yeah, it’s just that you know the biggest thing in Dean’s life is pretty much hunting. And it seems like we’ve been dealing with this apocalypse crap forever. I know he wishes we could get back to some regular hunts."
Cas just looks at him, obviously confused.
"So I found this hunt, it’s just a poltergeist up in Poughkeepsie, but I think it would mean a lot to Dean if you brought this one to him. Just tell him you think it’s important. I know he’d be grateful."
"Okay," Cas says, looking determined. "I can do that."
"All right, man. He should be back to the room in about two hours, so come back then."
"Okay, Sam. I’ll see you soon."
---
A while later, the brothers are sitting on their respective beds, Dean cleaning weapons while Sam works on the computer.
"Oh, wow," he says, looking intently at the screen.
"What is it, Sammy? You find us a hunt?"
"No, I was just looking at the news, and apparently they legalized gay marriage in New York state. That’s awesome."
Dean looks at him for a long moment before nodding. "Yeah, I guess that’s pretty cool."
Sam goes back to combing through news sites, and they’re quiet for about twenty minutes before a rustling sound announces Castiel’s return to the room. Dean looks up, and Sam thinks he sees him blush.
"Hey, Cas," Dean says with a cautious smile. "What’s up?"
"I require your help with a haunting. I need you to come to Poughkeepsie, New York."
When Dean’s face turns white, Cas frowns and tries to make his point a little clearer.
"I think it’s very important that you take a break from the apocalypse and go to New York. Will you do that for me?"
Dean’s a little wild-eyed at this point. "Yeah, whatever," he says quickly. He jumps up from the bed and heads into the bathroom, locking the door behind him.
Castiel sighs. "I really don't think this is working, Sam."
"No, man, it definitely is. Just don’t give up yet."
---
It’s two weeks before Sam finds another opportunity. They’re out at a bar and Dean’s distracted, flirting with the bartender. He prays to Castiel under his breath, and the angel appears on the stool next to him.
"Okay, Cas, I think this is going to do it. You need to make Dean jealous. Find a good-looking guy and flirt with him. When Dean sees, he’ll be livid. It will be perfect."
"Sam," Cas protests, clearly frustrated. "I have no idea how to flirt with somebody. If I did, I might not need your help at all."
"No, it’s easy," Sam argues. He scans the bar and finds a tall guy with blond hair and a reasonably pretty face. "Go say hello to him," he tells Cas, gesturing at the guy. "Just stand close, and touch his arm, and act like you’re interested in what he has to say."
Cas looks skeptical, but he closes his eyes for a moment as if steeling his nerves. He then turns on his heel and walks directly over to the blond guy, whose eyes light up appreciatively at the sight of Castiel. Sam orders another beer and sits back, ready for an enjoyable night.
---
Dean’s sitting in the back of a police car, his hands cuffed behind him and a bruise already forming on his cheek, when Cas appears in the seat next to him.
"Cas! Oh, I’m glad to see you, man."
"Dean," he begins, radiating disapproval. "I don’t understand why you felt the need to strike that man. You're not normally so impulsive."
"I don’t know, man, he was coming on to you! You looked uncomfortable, and that shit just isn’t cool. He was being way too forward. I’d have done the same for Sammy."
Cas sighs, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose in a very human gesture of frustration. He looks up and raises his hand toward Dean’s forehead before pausing.
"I know that you don't enjoy it when I ‘zap’ you places, but I feel that these are exigent circumstances. Will you allow me to remove you from this car before the police attempt to identify you?"
"Shit, yeah. Please, get me out of here."
Cas places a hand on his cheek and reality shifts, reforming into Dean and Sam’s motel room.
"Thanks, man." Dean looks up at Cas, who appears agitated. "Is something wrong?"
The look Castiel fixes on him sends a shiver down his spine. He knows the angel’s been acting weird lately, but surely he’s reading these signals wrong. Dean doesn’t ever get that lucky. He swallows, his throat suddenly dry.
"Yes, Dean. Something is wrong. I approached Sam for assistance, but I believe he has been manipulating me for his own amusement. The time for subtlety has passed," he says, before pushing Dean onto the bed. He follows him down, straddling his hips.
"I would like to pursue a romantic relationship with you," he says before dropping his head and pressing his mouth hard against Dean’s. A whimper encourages him, and he rolls his body downward, feeling the hard line of an erection as Dean’s hips buck up into his own.
"Are you amenable to the idea?" he murmurs, nipping at Dean’s jaw. He takes the answering groan as confirmation and reaches down to work Dean’s belt open.
Dean is panting, and his head is spinning. The handcuffs are pulling at his still-bound wrists, and damned if that isn't turning him on. He tries to get his mind working enough to say something, anything, before Cas thinks he’s a total idiot. Well, more of one.
"Yeah, Cas, yeah, shit," he cries, voice strained as Cas wraps a hand around him. "Next time, man, go straight for the direct route. Trust me."
"Dean," Cas chuckles, and Dean shivers. "There won't be a ‘next time.’ For me or you."
Dean just lets his head fall back and groans, fighting down the smile that's threatening to split his face wide open.
"Yeah," he says breathlessly. "You got it."